List of the best digital door locks to use for a short-term rental in 2024

Whether you’re starting out as a brand new host setting up your first short term rental, or even if you’re a seasoned property manager, you’ve probably wondered “What are the best digital door locks to use for a short-term rental?” I asked myself too when I started managing rental properties back in 2015. Since then, I’ve tried all kinds of different locks and key exchange solutions. This is a list of my favorite digital door locks to use.

Best digital door lock for the front door in a vacation home rental:

1. Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt with Alarm

   This is the best lock that I recommend for your front door because it integrates seamlessly with Airbnb, so you can set it to automatically create unique door codes for each incoming guest.
   

2. Sifely Smart Lock

   This is a really good more budget-friendly option that you can still control and change codes etc easily right on your phone.

Best coded door lock for private bedrooms in a shared home rental:

1. Signstek Keyless Entry Door Lock

   You can easily add some privacy to your individual bedroom listings by switching out the door knobs to lockable door knobs that use a digital entry code. This lock is a great low-tech low-budget-friendly option for the bedroom doors or any door in the interior of your house (like a closet that you only want your cleaner to have access to).

Best keyless locks for gates, fences & sliding doors:

1. IULOCK Smart Door Lock

   Great waterproof & weatherproof option for gates that have the space for a more traditional door knob.
   

2. Yardlock Keyless Entry Gate Lock

   Super smart and simple way to secure your fence gate with a keyless coded lock.
   

3. SUMO Keyless Entry Door Lever

   Perfect keyless coded lock for a metal gate.
   

4. Linnea Commercial Smart Lock

   This is my favorite option for a digital door lock for sliding doors. It's available on Wayfair for under $400.
   

5. MDH Sliding Door Smart Lock

   Awesome very secure smart lock for sliding doors that you can control with your phone.
   

6. CODACE Keyless Entry Door Lock with Keypad

   Very simple low cost option for a keyless sliding door lock.

Best key exchange solutions for buildings with fob entry or in a closed community complex:

1. Master Lock Lockbox

   In general, no matter what, I always recommend swapping your regular front door lock with a digital coded door lock to prevent guests from accidentally losing keys causing you to have to replace your lock over and over. However, if you live in a building or closed community complex, you may need to check your building's community rules to see if you're allowed to do this. If you can’t change the locks, then you may be able to find a place to install a classic lockbox like this one.
   

2. Rudy Run Wall Mount Lockbox

   An easy to use wall mounted version of the standard classic lock box.

3. Key Café

   If you don’t have any place where you can put a lockbox, a great alternative you can consider using a public KeyCafe if they have a location in your area.

4. Business Key Café

   You can also ask your building or housing complex to see if they would be willing to consider installing a Key Café modular locker in within your property complex.